SOUTHAMPTON, Sept 5: England have been allowed to delay naming their 14-man squad for next month's Champions Trophy tournament in India by the International Cricket Council until after the end of their ongoing one-day series against Pakistan.

The original deadline for announcing the party was Sept 7 but David Graveney, the chairman of England selectors said: “We are extremely grateful to ICC for this concession.

“We have collected injuries during this NatWest Series and we will now have more time to evaluate some of the replacements.”

England's five-match series against Pakistan ends on Sunday at Edgbaston.

Veteran fast bowler Darren Gough joined England's growing injury list when he withdrew from the remainder of the Pakistan series with a shin injury after the team's seven-wicket defeat at Lord's on Saturday.

England were 1-0 down in the best of five-match contest heading into the third match of the series at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, having lost four of their last 23 matches in all limited overs cricket.—AFP